Friday, September 12
Southern Miss Wellness Center
4 p.m.
Southern Miss
5-2,0-0Sun Belt
3
vs
0
Mercer
1-8,0-0SoCon
1
2
3
F
Mercer
21
21
17
0
Southern Miss.
25
25
25
3
Volleyball Forces Sweep Against Mercer
9/12/2025 7:15:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Southern Miss volleyball defeated Mercer in three sets with scores of 25-21, 25-21, and 25-17 to advance to 5-2 on Friday night in the Wellness Center.
In the opening set, Southern Miss trades points with kills from Sadie McAda and Emily Davis to take the lead, but the Bears battle back to tie the score 15-15. Following a Southern Miss time out, Morgen Durgens reset the offensive pace and led the Golden Eagles to a final kill by Elly Stewart to secure the set 25-21.
Mercer took a quick lead to begin the second set at 5-1 but kills from Brynn Botkin paired with a block from Stewart propels Southern Miss forward to a ties score at 12-12. After two more ties to end up at 17-17, Durgens earns a kill to change the momentum of the set to distribute the ball to Stewart, McAda, and Lillie Johnson to close out the set 25-21.
Both teams traded points in the opening of the third set but kills by McAda and Stewart began the snowball of momentum for Southern Miss to find their groove, gaining a steady 9-6 lead. A trio of Mercer errors advanced the lead to 16-10, with offensive plays from Davis and an ace from McAda to close the set 25-17, concluding the match.
McAda finished the match with 17 kills and a hitting percentage of .469, her highest hitting percentage in her 2024 and 2025 seasons. Durgens finished the match with 31 assists, and Sunni Sheppard finished with 15 digs on the day. Botkin proved a defensive presence at the net, with three solo blocks and one block assists.
Southern Miss will host Mississippi State on Sunday, Sept. 14 in a 1 p.m. match in the Wellness Center.
To keep up with the Golden Eagles, follow our Instagram (@southernmissvball), X (@southernmissvb), and Facebook (Southern Miss Volleyball).
.png&width=84&height=84&quality=100&type=webp)
Team Stats
Mercer
USM
Kills
32
43
Errors
15
13
Attempts
108
113
Hitting %
.157
.265
Points
36.0
59.0
Assists
25
39
Aces
1
6
Blocks
3
10
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
17
Aces
1
Blocks
2
Kills
7
Aces
3
Blocks
4
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
L
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's VolleyballEpisode 5: Forged In Fire
Wednesday, November 29
Episode 4:Forged In Fire
Friday, November 03
Volleyball HC Jenny Hazelwood and Junior Mia Wesley- Arkansas State Postgame
Saturday, October 21
Episode 3: Forged In Fire
Thursday, October 19